Thermionic control device



Feb; 19, R. GUNN 87 THERMIONIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/vi/ElvroR Roar Gunn ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1935. GUNN THERMIONIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 13. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ross Gunn ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1935 f g mm, STATES arms N (Granted under the we Marcus, 1883, as

amended April 30, 19 28; 370 '0.1G. 757) W This invention-relates to-a thermionic control device and more particularly'to one adapted for use in modulating radio waves. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a de- 5 vice of the type mentioned that has double control circuits whereby the high frequency oscillations and the low voice frequencies may be completely separatedin a modulating circuit, one thereof being magnetically controlled and the other beingelectrostatically controlled. With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefullydescribed.

Reference is to. be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part-of this specification in which like reference characters indicate corre-' sponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1'is a perspective view of the embodiment of my invention at present preferred; Fig. 2 is a diagram of one circuit in which myinvention may beadvantageously used. The-*envelope 4 of the tube is'adapted to be exhausted tothe requisite degree. Disposed therein is a hotcathode 5'surroundedby a control grid 6 having the external jconnection 'l. A

set 8 of deflecting plates is'interpos'ed on each side of 'g'rid fi between the grid and the'--anode plates 9. The deflectingplate's in a set maybe all connected into a single group, or the alternate plates in 'a set may be connected together, as indicated inFig. 2 and shown in Fig. 1' to make two groups 10 and 11 in each set, the correspond-'- ing groups being connected together as shown in Fig. 1 which latter is in effect a multi-plate condenser. When suitable potentials are impressed upon the deflector plates and varied inany desired manner, the fluctuations imposed by grid 6 upon the electron stream from filament 5 to plates 9 will be modified by the diversion of a greater or less proportion of the electrons away from the plates 9 to the deflecting plates 8.

The application of my invention as shown in Fig. 2 involves coupling coils 12 and 13, the former being the input primary and the latter being the secondary connected in circuit with grid 6 and grid biasing battery 14. Filament 5 is heated by current from a source 15 and is connected to plate group 10 by a by-pass condenser 16. Battery 17 and secondary coil 18 are connected in series between groups 10 and 11 of the deflector plates. Batteries 19 and 20 are connected between cathode 5 and output primary coil 21, a median tap 22 from coil 18 being connected be- 1 much reduced. When a fluctuating current is tween them. j By-pass condenser 23 is'connected between coil 21 and filament 5. Coil 24 is the output secondary. v r 3 I The passage of electrons from cathode 5' to anode 9 is controlled by the voltages impressed 5 upon grid 6 by input coils l2 -and 13, theelectrons impinging upon anode 9" producing the plate current. 'Battery l'lse'ts upan'electrostatic field between the plates of setsl O- and 11, the'positively charged plates of the former attracting the elec-- 1 trons and the negativelyhharged plates repelling them toward the positively charged plates, so that the number passing-- through to plate 9 is caused to pass through coil 25, as by connecting it to a'microphone that is-f'subjected'to' sound waves, currents will be induced'in'coil 18 that will modify the charges on plates 10 and 11, at times increasing the charge so that veryfew'electrons-will rea'chplate 9, at other times decreas ing-the charge so thatlar'ge numbers'will pass toplate 9 and a strongplate current willflow' through output coil 21. There will bea positive bias'on the sets of the deflector plates 8*as a whole, due to battery19, and a'much stronger positive bias on the plate due to the series action of batteries 19 and 20, so that the electrons will be'drawn from filament 5 toward" them, but the number that reaches plate 9. will be'determined by the condition of the electrostaticfield between the plates of sets 10"and11;.'-' The efiect of this action is thatthe oscillations inthe plate currentdue to grid 6 will be modulated by the changes in the electrostatic-field produced I by" the fluctuations in coil 25.- I 9 It is tobe understood that the present invention has many other uses than herein specified, as, for example, it may be used to divide or multiply frequencies or as a straight amplifier, the constructions and uses herein set forth being by way of illustration merely and not by way of limitation.

The herein described invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A thermionic tube comprising a cathode, a control grid disposed therearound, an anode having sections on opposite sides of said grid, and a set of spaced apart plates between each anode section and said grid, each of said sets comprising two groups of plates having the plates in each group connected together and to the corresponding group in the other set.

2. A thermionic tube, comprising a cathode, a control grid disposed therearound, an anode having sections on opposite sides of said grid spaced therefrom, all in the same evacuated space and a plurality of spaced apart plates alternately connected together into groups disposed between each anode sectionand the said grid.

3. A thermionic tube, comprising a single element cathode, an anode spaced therefrom, a grid between said cathode and said anode, all in the same evacuated space, and a plurality of spaced apart plates alternately connected together into two groups disposed between said grid and said anode.

4. A thermionic tube, comprising an electron emissive element, means for collecting electrons so emitted, means for controlling the stream of electrons from said element to said first mentioned means, and means for. diverting. the said stream of electrons, the last mentioned means, having a plurality of spaced parallel plates with the alternate plates connected to be chargeable with opposite electrostatic charges.

5. A thermionic tube comprising an anode, a cathode, a control grid and an additional control means, said means comprising a plurality of impcrforate plates disposed between said control grid and said anode spaced apart and parallel to the principal direction of flow of the electrons from the cathode to the anode there being a plurality of pairs of plates constituted thereby, the plates of each pair being adapted to be oppositely charged and each of said plates save the outermost two being a member of twosuch pairs.

6. A thermionic device, comprising a tube having a source of electrons, a collector of electrons, control means to vary the flow of electrons from said source to said collector and a series of parallel plates between said source and said collector connected to constitute in effect a plurality of pairs of oppositely chargeable plates constituting. additional control means to modulate the electron stream.

7-. A thermionic tube, comprising a cathode, an anode spaced therefrom, a grid between said cathode and said anode and a plurality of spaced apart imperforate plates connected together to constitute a plurality of pairs of plates with the plates of each pair oppositely chargeable disposed betweensaid grid and said anode.

8. A thermionic tube, comprising an anode, a

cathode, a control grid and an additional control means, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of imperforate plates disposed between said control grid and said anode spaced apart and parallel to the principal direction of flow of the electrons from the cathode to the anode.

9. A thermionic tube, comprising a cathode, a substantially helical grid disposed around said cathode, and an anode, all in the same evacuated space, means in said tube between said grid and said anodeto deflect electrons passing from said cathode to said anode, said means including a plurality of plates parallel to each other and disposed at an angle to said anode, the alternate plates being connected together.

10. A thermionic tube including a cathode, a substantially helical grid disposed around said cathode, and an anode, all in the same evacuated space, said grid being adapted to control the flow of electrons from said cathode to said anode, and means between thegrid and the anodehaving portions that inv effect constitute a multiplate condenser with the planes of theplates parallel to the electron stream.-

11. A thermionic tube, comprising a source of electrons, means therein to control the flow of said electrons, an anode having two sections on opposite sides of said source, and means in said tube having two portions each of whichportions constitutes in effect a multi-plate condenser to modify the control flow of said electrons by application of opposite electrostatic charges to adjacent elements of said portions, the last said means being disposed between the sections of the anode. I

12. A thermionic tube, comprising a cathode, a control grid disposed therearound, an anode having sections on opposite sides of said grid and spaced therefrom, all the aforesaid elements being in the same evacuatedspace, and a plurality of spaced apart plates alternately connected together into groups disposed between each anode section and said grid to deflect electrons passing therebetween and to hold a portion of such electrons, the proportion of electrons so held being a function of the voltage impressed upon said plates.

13. A thermionic tube, comprising a single element cathode, an anode having two sections on opposite sides of said cathode, a plurality of pairs of plates disposed between each anode section and said cathode and a single-wire grid to control the flow of electrons from saidcathode to both anode sections.

ROSS GUNN. 

